asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if the Government are in favour of RTE televising Dáil and Seanad proceedings.
Written Answers. - Televising of Dáil and Seanad.
531.
The Programme for Government states that "facilities will be provided for broadcasting debates of the Oireachtas".
In my capacity as Leader of the House, I have been considering the various aspects and technicalities of broadcasting both plenary and committee sessions in this House and the matter has been discussed at Government. It has also been the subject of detailed consideration by the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges, particularly in recent months. It is my intention to bring the matter before Government, for final decision, in the very near future but I should say that the initial focus of attention will be on radio coverage. I should point out that both the Dáil and Seanad Committees on Procedure and Privileges have been in touch with RTE in recent months and have had experimental tapes of the type likely to be broadcast by RTE prepared. These tapes proved to be generally satisfactory. As the Deputy will be aware, the factors affecting television coverage of parliamentary proceedings, in particular the cost factors, are of a more complex nature. However, once experience is gained from radio coverage of proceedings, I will then consider when and in what circumstances it would be appropriate to commence television coverage of Dáil and/or committee proceedings.
It would be my intention to have radio coverage of Oireachtas proceedings commence at the beginning of the next session.